GelsPub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.3390/gels11090742
Nikolaos D Bikiaris, Ermioni Malini, Evi Christodoulou, Panagiotis A Klonos, Apostolos Kyritsis, Apostolos Galaris, Kostas Pantopoulos
{"title":"Amphiphilic Thermoresponsive Triblock PLA-PEG-PLA and Diblock mPEG-PLA Copolymers for Controlled Deferoxamine Delivery.","authors":"Nikolaos D Bikiaris, Ermioni Malini, Evi Christodoulou, Panagiotis A Klonos, Apostolos Kyritsis, Apostolos Galaris, Kostas Pantopoulos","doi":"10.3390/gels11090742","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090742","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of thermoresponsive hydrogels of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), PLA-PEG copolymers, aiming at the targeted and controlled release of deferoxamine (DFO), a clinically applied iron-chelating drug. Triblock (PLA-PEG-PLA) and diblock (mPEG-PLA) copolymers were synthesized using ring-opening polymerization (ROP) with five different PEGs with molecular weights of 1000, 1500, 2000, 4000, and 6000 g/mol and two types of lactide (L-lactide and D-lactide). Emulsions of the polymers in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were prepared at concentrations ranging from 10% to 50% <i>w</i>/<i>w</i> to study the sol-gel transition properties of the copolymers. Amongst the synthesized copolymers, only those that demonstrated thermoresponsive sol-to-gel transitions near physiological temperature (37 °C) were selected for further analysis. Structural and molecular confirmation was performed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while the molecular weights were determined via Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). The thermal transitions were studied by calorimetry (DSC) and crystallinity via X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. DFO-loaded hydrogels were prepared, and their drug release profiles were investigated under simulated physiological conditions (37 °C) for seven days using HPLC analysis. The thermoresponsive characteristics of these systems can offer a promising strategy for injectable drug delivery applications, where micelles serve as drug carriers and undergo in situ gelation, enabling controlled release. This alternative procedure may significantly improve the bioavailability of DFO and enhance patient compliance by addressing key limitations of conventional administration routes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.3390/gels11090739
Haiyan Yu, Ning Guo, Anqi Chen, Mingdong Li, Haochun Zhang, Mu Du
{"title":"Microscopic Insight into Knudsen and Electromagnetic Effects on Thermal Conductivity of Closed Mesoporous Metal Gels.","authors":"Haiyan Yu, Ning Guo, Anqi Chen, Mingdong Li, Haochun Zhang, Mu Du","doi":"10.3390/gels11090739","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090739","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accurate thermal characterization of closed mesoporous metal gels is vital for high-temperature uses, yet microscale effects often ignored in macroscopic models significantly impact heat transfer. This study introduces a new predictive method based on an equivalent Voronoi model, accounting for the Knudsen effect and microscale electromagnetic interactions. Predicted thermal conductivity closely matched experimental results, with an average error of 5.35%. The results demonstrate that thermal conductivity decreases with porosity, increases with temperature, and varies with pore size, with a minimum of 17.47 W/(m·K) observed at ~1 μm. Variations in refractive index, extinction coefficient, and specific surface area exert negligible influence. Conductive heat transfer is suppressed under Knudsen-dominated conditions at small pore sizes. Electromagnetic analysis around the pore size corresponding to minimum conductivity reveals localized surface plasmon resonances and magnetic coupling at the gas-solid interface, which enhance radiative dissipation and further reduce thermal conductivity. Radiation dissipation efficiency increases with decreasing porosity and pore size. This model thus serves as a predictive tool for designing high-performance thermal insulation systems for elevated-temperature applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469782/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.3390/gels11090741
Sabuj Chandra Sutradhar, Md Shahriar Ahmed, Mohammad Afsar Uddin, Ye-Chan Oh, Junwoo Park, Kyung-Wan Nam, Mobinul Islam
{"title":"Applications of Conductive Polymer Hydrogels for Supercapacitor, Solar Cell, and Energy Conversion.","authors":"Sabuj Chandra Sutradhar, Md Shahriar Ahmed, Mohammad Afsar Uddin, Ye-Chan Oh, Junwoo Park, Kyung-Wan Nam, Mobinul Islam","doi":"10.3390/gels11090741","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090741","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hydrogels are rapidly emerging as a versatile and promising platform for advancing energy storage and conversion technologies. Their intrinsic properties-such as high water content, excellent ionic conductivity, and inherent mechanical flexibility-position them as key materials for a wide range of applications, including supercapacitors, flexible membranes, and components in fuel cells and solar cells. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in enhancing their mechanical durability, developing scalable fabrication methods, and ensuring environmental sustainability. Recent breakthroughs in composite hydrogel systems, innovative manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing, and self-healing strategies are driving substantial improvements in device performance and operational lifespan. Emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and innovative material design, this review highlights the transformative potential of hydrogel-based energy systems in shaping a sustainable and flexible energy future. The advancements discussed herein have promising implications for the development of high-performance, environmentally friendly, and adaptable energy devices capable of meeting the demands of next-generation applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470070/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.3390/gels11090738
Anca Elena Țăin Anastasiu, Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă, Monica Sânziana Nedelcu, Alina Maria Holban, Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu, Ariana Hudiță
{"title":"Cinnamon-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles and Beta-Carotene Nanocarriers in Alginate Dressings for Wound Healing Applications.","authors":"Anca Elena Țăin Anastasiu, Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă, Monica Sânziana Nedelcu, Alina Maria Holban, Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu, Ariana Hudiță","doi":"10.3390/gels11090738","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090738","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The natural wound healing process is often insufficient to restore tissue integrity in the case of chronic wounds, particularly when skin disruption is accompanied by pathological complications. The severity of these wounds is frequently exacerbated by persistent inflammation and the formation of bacterial biofilms, which significantly hinder skin regeneration. In this study, a pharmaceutical hydrogel-based wound dressing was developed and evaluated, incorporating silver nanoparticles synthesized with cinnamon essential oil that serves as both a stabilizer and antimicrobial agent, polymeric beta-carotene nanoparticles, and <i>Centella asiatica</i> extract. The work details the synthesis of both types of nanoparticles, their integration into an alginate-based matrix, and the subsequent formulation of composite dressings. The influence of each therapeutic agent on the morphology and structural characteristics of the dressings was demonstrated, along with the evaluation of their antimicrobial performance against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The antimicrobial effects observed within the first 24 h, critical for wound dressing application, highlight the potential of the developed materials for effective chronic wound management. A comprehensive set of analyses was performed to characterize the synthesized nanostructures and the final dressings. These included XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDS, and DLS. Additionally, swelling and degradation tests were conducted to assess hydrogel performance, while antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities were tested against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> over a 24-h period. The biocompatibility screening of the alginate-based wound dressings was performed on human keratinocyte cells and revealed that the incorporation of beta-carotene and <i>Centella asiatica</i> into alginate-based wound dressings effectively mitigates silver-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress and determines the development of highly biocompatible wound dressings. This paper presents an alginate hydrogel co-loaded with Ag nanoparticles, BC@PVP, and <i>Centella asiatica</i> extract that balances antimicrobial efficacy with cytocompatibility. Pairing silver with natural antioxidant/anti-inflammatory components mitigates cell stress while retaining broad activity, and the nanoparticle choice tunes pore architecture to optimize moisture and exudate control in chronic wounds.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470215/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.3390/gels11090740
Dinuki M Seneviratne, Eliza J Whiteside, Louisa C E Windus, Paulomi Polly Burey, Raelene Ward, Pratheep K Annamalai
{"title":"Emerging Biomedical Applications of Sustainable Cellulose Nanocrystal-Incorporated Hydrogels: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Dinuki M Seneviratne, Eliza J Whiteside, Louisa C E Windus, Paulomi Polly Burey, Raelene Ward, Pratheep K Annamalai","doi":"10.3390/gels11090740","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090740","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), derived from renewable cellulose sources, have emerged as a versatile class of nanomaterial with exceptional mechanical strength, tuneable surface chemistry and inherent biocompatibility. In the scenario of contemporary commercial hydrogel products, which are expensive and rely on synthetic materials, the sustainable origin and unique physicochemical properties have positioned CNCs as promising sustainable functional building blocks for next-generation hydrogels in biomedical applications. Over the past decade, CNC-based hydrogels have gained momentum as soft biomaterials capable of interacting with diverse tissue types, predominantly demonstrated through in vitro cell line studies. This review critically examines the current landscape of research on biomedical applications of CNC-based hydrogels, focusing on their biomedical utility across 22 systematically screened studies. It revealed applications spanning around bone and cartilage tissue engineering, wound healing, medical implants and sensors, and drug delivery. We highlight the predominance of microcrystalline cellulose as the CNC source and sulfuric acid hydrolysis as the preferred extraction method, with several studies incorporating surface modifications to enhance functionality. Despite growing interest, there remains a lack of data for transitioning towards human clinical studies and commercialisation. Hence, this review highlights the pressing need for scalable, sustainable, and affordable CNC-based hydrogel systems that can democratise access to advanced biomedical technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469338/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-13DOI: 10.3390/gels11090737
Sabuj Chandra Sutradhar, Nipa Banik, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Khan, Jae-Ho Jeong
{"title":"Polymer Gel-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators: Conductivity and Morphology Engineering for Advanced Sensing Applications.","authors":"Sabuj Chandra Sutradhar, Nipa Banik, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Khan, Jae-Ho Jeong","doi":"10.3390/gels11090737","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090737","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polymer gel-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as versatile platforms for self-powered sensing due to their inherent softness, stretchability, and tunable conductivity. This review comprehensively explores the roles of polymer gels in TENG architecture, including their function as triboelectric layers, electrodes, and conductive matrices. We analyze four operational modes-vertical contact-separation, lateral-sliding, single-electrode, and freestanding configurations-alongside key performance metrics. Recent studies have reported output voltages of up to 545 V, short-circuit currents of 48.7 μA, and power densities exceeding 120 mW/m<sup>2</sup>, demonstrating the high efficiency of gel-based TENGs. Gel materials are classified by network structure (single-, double-, and multi-network), matrix composition (hydrogels, aerogels, and ionic gels), and dielectric medium. Strategies to enhance conductivity using ionic salts, conductive polymers, and nanomaterials are discussed in relation to triboelectric output and sensing sensitivity. Morphological features such as surface roughness, porosity, and micro/nano-patterning are examined for their impact on charge generation. Application-focused sections detail the integration of gel-based TENGs in health monitoring (e.g., sweat, glucose, respiratory, and tremor sensing), environmental sensing (e.g., humidity, fire, marine, and gas detection), and tactile interfaces (e.g., e-skin and wearable electronics). Finally, we address current challenges, including mechanical durability, dehydration, and system integration, and outline future directions involving self-healing gels, hybrid architectures, and AI-assisted sensing. This review expands the subject area by synthesizing recent advances and offering a strategic roadmap for developing intelligent, sustainable, and multifunctional TENG-based sensing technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469487/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-12DOI: 10.3390/gels11090736
Katherine B Crump, Chloé Chapallaz, Ahmad Alminnawi, Paola Bermudez-Lekerika, Liesbet Geris, Jérôme Noailly, Benjamin Gantenbein
{"title":"Exploring Mechanotransduction and Inflammation in Human Cartilaginous Endplate Cells in Blended Collagen-Agarose Hydrogels Under Cyclic Compression.","authors":"Katherine B Crump, Chloé Chapallaz, Ahmad Alminnawi, Paola Bermudez-Lekerika, Liesbet Geris, Jérôme Noailly, Benjamin Gantenbein","doi":"10.3390/gels11090736","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090736","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Little is known about cartilaginous endplate (CEP) mechanobiology or how it changes in a catabolic microenvironment, partly due to difficulties in conducting mechanotransduction in vitro. Recent studies have found blended collagen-agarose hydrogels to offer improved mechanotransduction in chondrocytes compared to agarose alone. It was hypothesized that blended collagen-agarose hydrogels would be sufficient to improve the mechanobiological response in CEP cells relative to that in agarose alone, while maintaining the chondrocyte phenotype and ability to respond to pro-inflammatory stimulation. Thus, human CEP cells were seeded into blended 2% agarose and 2 mg/mL type I collagen hydrogels, followed by culture with dynamic compression up to 7% and stimulation with TNF. Results confirmed CEP cells retained a rounded phenotype and high cell viability during culture in blended collagen-agarose hydrogels. Additionally, TNF induced a catabolic response through downregulation of pericellular marker <i>COL6A1</i> and anabolic markers <i>ACAN</i> and <i>COL2A1</i>. No significant changes were seen due to dynamic compression, suggesting addition of collagen to agarose was not sufficient to induce mechanotransduction in human CEP cells in this study. However, blended collagen-agarose hydrogels increased stiffness by 4× and gene expression of key cartilage marker <i>SOX9</i> and physioosmotic mechanosensor <i>TRPV4</i>, offering an improvement on agarose alone.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469522/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Highly Entangled, Mechanically Robust Hydrogel Thin Films for Passive Cooling Materials via Open-Vessel Fabrication.","authors":"Lihan Rong, Jiajiang Xie, Shigao Zhou, Tianqi Guan, Xinyi Fan, Wenjie Zhi, Rui Zhou, Feng Li, Yuyan Liu, Tingting Tang, Xiang Chen, Liyuan Zhang","doi":"10.3390/gels11090734","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090734","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The scalable fabrication of hydrogels with high toughness and low hysteresis is critically hindered by oxygen inhibition, which typically produces brittle, highly crosslinked (HC) networks. This study presents an oxygen-tolerant photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT) strategy for synthesizing highly entangled (HE) polyacrylamide hydrogels under open-vessel conditions. By optimizing the water-to-monomer ratio (W = 3.9) and introducing lithium chloride (LiCl) for spatial confinement, we achieved a fundamental shift in mechanical performance. The optimized HE hydrogel exhibited a fracture energy of 1.39 MJ/m<sup>3</sup> and a fracture strain of ~900%, starkly contrasting the brittle failure of the HC control (W = 20, C = 10<sup>-2</sup>) at ~50% strain. This represents an order-of-magnitude improvement in deformability. Furthermore, the incorporation of 15 wt% LiCl amplified the HE hydrogel's fracture energy to 2.17 MJ/m<sup>3</sup> while maintaining its low hysteresis. This method enables the rapid, scalable production of robust, transparent thin films that exhibit dual passive cooling via radiative emission (>89% emissivity) and evaporation, rapid self-healing, and reliable strain sensing at temperatures as low as -20 °C. The synergy of entanglement design and confinement engineering establishes a versatile platform for manufacturing multifunctional hydrogels that vastly outperform their crosslink-dominated predecessors.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469944/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GelsPub Date : 2025-09-12DOI: 10.3390/gels11090735
Muhammet Davut Arpa, Fatma Julide Akbuğa
{"title":"Chitosan-Based Nanogels in Modern Drug Delivery: Focus on Protein and Gene Applications.","authors":"Muhammet Davut Arpa, Fatma Julide Akbuğa","doi":"10.3390/gels11090735","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090735","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nanogels have attracted significant attention in recent years due to their high biocompatibility, controlled release capacity, sensitivity to environmental stimuli, and targeted transport characteristics as drug delivery systems. Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide, is a biopolymer widely used in nanogel formulations due to its positively charged structure, biodegradability, and modifiable functional groups. In this review, the therapeutic applications of chitosan-based nanogels are discussed thoroughly, especially emphasizing in the areas of protein/peptide, antigen, and gene transport. Production methods, chemical modification strategies, transport mechanisms to target cells, and the biological activities of these systems have been evaluated. Chitosan nanogels are promising carrier systems in wide range of areas, including gene therapy, immunotherapy, and the delivery of biological agents, owing to their significant characteristics such as intracellular targeting, endosomal escape, and sustained release. Further studies might enable the translation of these systems into clinical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469913/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Application of Gels in the Conservation of Chinese Ancient Calligraphy and Paintings.","authors":"Zifan Chen, Xiaolong Zhao, Peng Xia, Xiaohan Qi, Xueling Zou, Shuya Wei","doi":"10.3390/gels11090726","DOIUrl":"10.3390/gels11090726","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chinese ancient calligraphy and paintings, as priceless cultural heritage, face dual conservation challenges: cleaning accumulated contaminants and combating microbial deterioration. Addressing these issues, this study develops a multifunctional poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PVA/PHEAA)-based hydrogel system, including a basic robust hydrogel, an ethylene glycol (EG)-modified antifreeze version, and a polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)-composite antibacterial hydrogel. By tuning interfacial adhesion energy at the molecular level, these hydrogels enable gentle yet effective cleaning of delicate substrates such as Xuan paper, efficiently removing surface and embedded dirt without mechanical damage. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed a \"capture-and-fixation\" dual-mode mechanism driven by hydrogen bonding and network reconfiguration, supporting the experimental findings. The EG-modified hydrogel retains elasticity at -20 °C, allowing conservation work in cold environments. Meanwhile, the PHMB-integrated hydrogel achieves a 99.6% antibacterial rate against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>S. aureus</i>, combining cleaning and long-term antimicrobial protection. Quantitative cleaning tests (<i>n</i> = 3) showed the PVA/PHEAA gel removed >90% of particulates, significantly outperforming traditional methods while leaving no detectable residues. Experimental results confirm the hydrogels' compatibility with cultural materials and their multifunctionality in Xuan paper conservation. This study introduces a novel material solution for restoring traditional Chinese calligraphy and paintings, significantly advancing the application of functional hydrogels in cultural heritage preservation. By extending the lifespan of ancient artworks through a safe, residue-free, and reversible cleaning approach, it contributes to the enduring transmission of Chinese civilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":12506,"journal":{"name":"Gels","volume":"11 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469917/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}